[Lifestyle] A Turkish film and TV star's guide to Antalya, Turkey

[Wolf.17]

 

Actor Ekin Koç called seaside Antalya home before conquering the world of Turkish film. Here are his picks, from hiking the Lycian Road to catching a concert at the Aspendos Theatre.

Though its name may be less familiar to overseas travellers than Istanbul, the Turkish resort city of Antalya is no stranger to visitors. Founded by the Ancient Greeks as Attalia in the 2nd Century BCE, Antalya has since been occupied by the Romans, the Seljuk Sultanate and the Ottomans; even withstanding a brief Italian occupation after World War One before Turkey claimed independence. Today, Antalya – the crowning jewel of the Turkish Riviera and, along with Istanbul, one of the world's most visited cities in 2023 – attracts both families and A-list celebrities with its 2,000-year-old Old Town and stunning turquoise waters.

Sometimes, the celebrity strolling Antalya's spectacular seashore is actually a native. We caught up with Antalya-born film star Ekin Koç (best known to English-speaking audiences as Turkish business advisor Kadir in HBO's Succession) to get his take on his beautiful hometown, studded by the Taurus mountains and cradled by the Mediterranean sea. 

"If you're from Antalya, you have a special connection with the sea," says Koç. "The sea is everywhere. We eat from the sea, we swim, we sit next to the sea. I've always loved being in connection with the sea."

Koç relocated to Istanbul for university and his film career but returns to Antalya whenever he can. "Istanbul is so stuffed," he says. "It's crowded. People are in a hurry. And you're never alone. [But] in Antalya, because of the heat and the Mediterranean culture, people are more relaxed."

When Koç is home, his presence inevitably spurs hordes of fans, but he loves strolling the Old Town's streets and taking advantage of the city's balmy shores and snowy mountain peaks. "You can literally go up to the mountain and ski and go back to the seaside and swim in the same day, if it's a sunny day," says Koç. "It's very unique."

Here are Koç's favourite ways to experience Antalya.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20241203-a-turkish-film-and-tv-stars-guide-to-antalya-turkey